Current AffairsMixed results for Czech Republic in UNICEF international child welfare report

The welfare of children in the world's most advanced states is the focus of
an extensive report just released by the United Nations children's
organisation UNICEF. It uses a wide range of factors from health, to
poverty, to relations with family and peers to rate 21 countries; the
Netherlands is judged to have the best child well-being, the UK the worst.
The Czech Republic ranks 15th, though the news is certainly not all bad.

Pavla Gomba
I spoke to the head of the Czech branch of UNICEF, Pavla Gomba, and first
asked her in which areas the country did well.

"Well, we traditionally rate well especially in health care and also
education. By the way, the only indicator where we were the first out of
all these 21 countries was in the number of books that children have
available at home. So I would say health and education...and of course
also relative poverty - we were in the upper average."

And are there any other positives for the Czech Republic in this report?

"I think the development is positive, because we do surveys like that
- although maybe not of this size - regularly. And the economic indicators
are improving, which has an impact on the situation of children."

In what categories is the Czech Republic judged to be weaker in terms of
child well-being?

"This survey identifies some gaps. These are especially in the area
of let's say emotional well-being, or relationships - especially in the
family and also relationships with peers.

"Also one of the questions was, how many times a week does a child
have breakfast? In this indicator we were in third worst place."

Is there also an issue of a relatively low level of friendship among
children themselves?

"This was one of the surprises for us. I think this is a very strong
indication and it should be taken seriously by especially at school,
because this is where children come into contact with other children and
their peers."

Finally, what do you say to the fact that the Czech Republic came 15th in
this survey out of 21 states, in terms of child welfare?

"The aim of this survey is to provoke a debate and to identify the
gaps for teachers, for parents, but also for the authorities, which can
set up a more protective and friendlier environment for children as well.

"What is very surprising is how the children themselves rate their
situation. They were in fact more negative than the actual situation is,
and this is I think an area of concern."